p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 21. (5/24/1899)

Incidents of the Tornado.

Sometimes branches were stripped from trees; sometimes the trees were wrenched and twisted off as by some giant hand; sometimes they were torn up by the roots, "as the fickle fancy of the storm listeth." Says the Kansas City Times of April 29:—

"The wrenched and twisted iron frame of a sewing-machine is sticking firmly in a stump, driven in so deeply that two strong men were unable to pull it loose. Long, jagged, fearsomely sharp spears of wood that once were the beams of floors, and the rafters of roofs, are sticking in the ground, and what walls are left look like a spent fight of Brobdingnagian javelins; and these are everywhere."

"Awful sights were met on every hand. One young woman was found pinned to the ground by

a huge beam and with a stake driven clear through her body. Dr. Young and a corps of students from the Ward infirmary did all that could be done for her, but she died this morning. Bessie Green, a pretty, winsome girl of 18, was found dead in what had been her home, at 1020 East McPherson Street. Her skull had been split open and her brains cupped as if by a surgeon."

Dead cows, horses, and chickens were strewn about in promiscuous confusion, "but in one place in the biggest of the ruins was one hen mother clucking about with a brood of thirteen little week-old chicks—she had apparently not lost a single member of her family."

A young man was carried two blocks ten feet high in the air, and over him were sailing two horses.

"J. T. Coonfield and his family were eating supper when the tornado struck their home. The house was picked up and carried across a slough and dumped up against a hill. The building was not completely wrecked, and the family escaped without anything worse than a severe shaking up."

Articles, such as clothing, books, albums, jewelry, etc., were blown from Kirksville to places twenty-five and thirty-five miles away.

"Mrs. Ranschott suffered a most terrible death. Her headless body, with its arms clasping her lifeless baby, was discovered on the floor of the house, which was left as a raised platform in an open field. The head was as keenly severed as if it had been done with a knife, and was about 20 feet distant."

A 16-year-old girl was found with a 2x4 scantling driven through her body.

There were happier incidents. "Two children had been lying in a cot in one of the destroyed homes. The house was carried away, but the floor of the first story and the foundation were left, the wind lifting the house from the sills and tumbling it a long distance. The cot on which the little ones lay was lifted up with them on it and carried fully a block and a half and set down on the ground. Neither of the children were hurt." Many other escapes were as truly remarkable.

Says the editor of the Kirksville Journal:—

"The wreck of the houses flying through the air high up presented an awful evidence of the fearful power of the wind. People seem dazed and can scarcely speak of it without trembling."

Two minutes the storm lasted, some say four minutes, when minutes mean hours; some say less than two minutes. Three minutes before all was quiet and at peace, save some ominous clouds, boding no danger save to a very few. Two minutes afterwards and there were nearly twocore dead, nearly a hundred more seriously injured, a quarter of a million of property destroyed, nearly three hundred families, 500 persons rendered homeless, part of a beautiful city in ruins, and many mourning,—all the work of two minutes! Before the tornado $10,000 residences stood in beauty and seeming prosperity; two minutes later not a vestige of them remained. So noble characters are wrecked by the tempests of sin and vice. Blessed is the man who builds not in the realms ruled by Satan, but whose house of character is anchored in the eternal righteousness and power of God.

HEAR, HEAR, O EARTH!

By Uriah Smith

BY URIAH SMITH.

"O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord." Jer. 22:29.

O EARTH, earth, earth, low sunk in sin and sorrow! Tears are the birthright of thy dying men; All hearts are aching for that happy morrow When righteousness and peace shall reign again. That day will come; for He who rules in heaven, Whose word created, and whose power upholds, Has not His work to utter ruin given, But still His creatures with His love enfolds.

But sin must perish in devouring fire; The elements must melt with fervent heat; Evil may not to endless life aspire, Nor curse tread God's domain with fouling feet; The judgment scene is thrust athwart the path Ere pilgrims, glad, their heavenly country win— An outburst of Jehovah's fiercest wrath Against that traitor in His kingdom—Sin!

Heaven sounds a trumpet-call to sons of men; Sky, land, and sea, lift up their voices now; And this the thrilling note of their refrain: Soon hosts of heaven yon parting sky will bow. Six thousand years their course foretold have run, All working, steadfast, to the crowning day, When the wild contest, Right with Wrong, is done, And from the great white throne earth flees away.

One Name alone reveals a door of hope; One lingering moment for escape remains. O Earth, no longer in thy darkness grope! O sinner, break the bondage of thy chains! The great Refiner's fire, who may abide? Before His lightning presence, who may stand? And yet His name's a tower in which to hide, And righteousness beams from His pierced hand.

O earth, earth, hear the summons of thy Lord! The crisis for eternity is near; 'Tis God that speaks; and ne'er canst thou afford The hopeless fate of those who will not hear— Who insult God, His tender call who spurn, Till break from heaven the words, in thunder tone, 'Tis done!' Ah, then all faces black will turn— A guilty, speechless world before the throne!

ROME THE GAINER.

"The war in the English Church against Ritualism," says the Catholic Mirror, "had the effect of filling the churches in which 'Romish' practises are followed, during holy week and Easter." As the result the High Churches are more determined than ever to hold to their Catholic rites. "Not a few of the churches held the service of tenebræ . Veneration of the Cross and the Stations was also followed, and more confessions were heard in ritualistic temples than ever before." One of the worst features of the matter is that the so-called "Evangelicals" in the English Church are endeavoring to suppress Ritualism through legal means; that is, they are trying to suppress Roman Catholicism in the church by Catholic weapons. One clergyman has well remarked, "Nothing tends so much to popularize an unpopular party as to give it just cause for crying 'persecution.'" The Catholic Mirror correspondent also notes the following:—

"An event took place on this day week, which may well be called memorable in the annals of London Catholicism. For the first time since the so-called Reformation, the Most Blessed Sacrament was carried in solemn procession through the streets to those unable through sickness or infirmity to make their Easter communion in the church. After the 7 o'clock Mass at St. Peter's, the Italian Church at Hatton Garden, the Rev. Father Cristoforo, P. S. M., left the church, carrying the Most Holy Sacrament under the canopy and preceded by cross-bearer, acolytes, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament in their scarlet and white habits, bearing lighted torches, and incense and bell-bearers. Following behind came the congregation with lighted tapers, the large proportion of men being particularly noticeable. Proceeding by the Clerkenwell road, several houses in the Italian quarter were visited, the people kneeling in the roadway reciting the Litany of Our Lady for the sick person during the administration. Everywhere the procession was received with signs of the most intense devotion."

ABOUNDING TRUSTS—A WARNING.

THE prophet of old, looking forward to these times of oppression and overreaching greed, speaks of the monopolist as "a proud man," who "neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people." Hab. 2:5.

This looks forward to the world monopoly, the world trust, with some overmastering, proud, shrewd schemer and wire-puller at the head. And how rapidly are we nearing its fulfilment! The prophecy may contemplate only the manifest ambition; the history of the commercial world to-day meets and demonstrates the truth of the prophecy. Almost every article of commerce in the large cities, every article of food and drink, almost every material thing with which we have to do, is in the control of some monopoly, corporation, or trust.

Within the last few months trusts and corporations to the number of 270 have been organized within the United States, with an aggregate capital of over six billions of dollars ($6,089,742,200). The articles run all the way from chewing gum to copper and steel, and from a capitalization of $300,000 (United Ice Co., Chicago) to $400,000,000, copper trust. Several of the trusts possess over $100,000,000. Another is listed at $250,000,000. The Federal Steel Trust is said to have a capital now of $800,000,000, and the Copper Trust, now materializing, is nearing the same figure. In eating and drinking materials we have candy, baking powder, biscuit, crackers, champagne, flour, fish, fruits, rice, cereals, beef, provisions, milk, rock salt, salt, sugar, caramels, etc., bound up in trusts. If the trusts would forever absorb some of these articles, they would be a blessing, especially in alcoholic spirits, baking powders, fancy candies, and we may add to these tobacco. Among useful necessary articles which the trusts are grasping to control are knit goods, rubber goods of all sorts, axes, bricks, bolts, and nuts, cast-iron pipe, cement, celluloid, crockery, sash and doors, all electric machinery, coal of all sorts, harvesters, cotton prints, all kinds of farming utensils, gas, glass, hay, leather and hides, milk, nails, cotton and linseed oils, paper, paint, silks and ribbons, rope and twine, saws, shears, screws, shoes, sewer pipe, wire, tiles, paper, tin, wood-working machinery woolen goods, burial caskets, marble, etc., etc., from the time one enters the world till a headstone is placed at his low grave. Truly the prophet spake truly.

Men feel it. In all the walks of life outside the trusts men complain and condemn the trust. Thousands are alarmed. Many more are in mental revolt, only waiting for the tempest to break, for the signal to be given. Then in the words of the prophet to the rich monopolist: "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee."

There is much more. These are God's merciful warnings to the rich. Why will they not heed it instead of inviting their ultimate destruction by pursuing their mad course?

We are not excusing violence, believing that God will avenge the wrong, and save the oppressed. But we must publish His warnings. Note in them the truthfulness of God's Word, and the certain end of injustice and oppression. The hope of the world is not in law or violence or force, but in the reception of the Gospel. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets."

CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.

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CONTAINED IN THIS NUMBER.

Poetry. Himself for Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 "Come, for All Things Are Now Ready," HOPE ONSLOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Hear, Hear, O Earth, URIAH SMITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 General. "This Man Receiveth Sinners," MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Progress—Educational Work, PROF. E. A. SUTHERLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Progress in the Publishing Work, URIAH SMITH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Progress in Sanitarium and Health Work, MRS. E. H. WHITNEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 12 Twenty-five Years of Work, GEORGE A. IRWIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Threefold Message, A. SWEDBERG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Editorial. All of God, All from God, All to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Increasing Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 This Issue—Why Published . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Rapid Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Question Corner.—Nos. 929, 930 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Home.—Mattie Lee's Rag Carpet, MRS. ROXANA C. BAKER—One Million Slaughtered—How George Muller Sought God's Will—The "Cycle Stoop" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11 International Sabbath-school and Sunday-school Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Outlook.—The Kirksville Tornado—Rome the Gainer—Abounding Trusts, a Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 15

Our next special issue will be "Independence Number," dated July 4. See announcement on second page of cover.

There are twoscore and one illustrations in this paper, several of which have naught to do with the special subject of this issue.

Sabbath-School Lesson.—The Sabbath-school lesson for this issue was printed in last week's issue. That contained two lessons.

Christian brother, the infinite resources of the Word of God are not yet exhausted by the exploration of puny mortals. God may have new, precious light for you. Do not limit Him by past human research.

The group of pictures on page 13 was promised and prepared for the Quarter-centennial Number of the SIGNS, but was crowded out of that issue, and is here given in fulfilment of that promise. The majority of the pictures represent those who, under God, have been especially connected with the paper in its conduct and history, while all have had much to do with our publishing work.

Position in this issue does not in any way indicate the prominence accorded any article by the editor; each reader will judge that for himself. Distribution of cuts and exigency of make-up has guided to some extent. Of our progress articles we have in order articles on education, publishing, and health and sanitarium work. These are followed by a wonderfully-concise review article for the last twenty-five years of the work among this people, by President George A. Irwin, a picture of whom we wish we could present, but overlooked it till too late.

There are many good buildings and beneficent institutions mentioned in this issue. There are others which we could not illustrate because we had no suitable photographs, or none at all, and time did not permit us to obtain any. But these institutions are not as precious as one soul saved from sin. More than this, unless these institutions are carrying out their purpose in God to save souls, they exist in vain. And the soul saved is not saved by virtue of the institution, nor by the virtue of the people who labor there, but solely by His grace. He uses these institutions, for which we praise Him. He uses men and women. All these are needed in His plan, but the grace is all of Him, and to Him be all the glory.

Word comes to us just as we are about to go to press from Dr. F. E. Brauch, our medical missionary in Samoa, that in the rebellion in the islands they and their property have been spared. We will give fuller particulars in our next. A small cut of the Samoan Sanitarium will be found on page 8 of this paper.

There are institutions illustrations of which we would have been glad to secure for this issue, but were unable so to do. Among these are the schools in Avondale, Australia; Claremont, South Africa; Graysville, Tenn.; sanitarium at Honolulu, and Calcutta, and publishing house in Cape Town, South Africa, and Calcutta, India. The SIGNS would be glad to receive good, clear, late photographs of all our institutions.

We have other photographs of the fearful work of the Kirksville cyclone, which we will present in a later issue. Our special agent found it almost impossible to obtain any views at all. Photographers and the great dailies had formed a sort of trust or combine to raise the price, but they were not wholly successful. Our thanks are due Mr. B. R. Nordyke, of Kansas City, for his assistance in securing views and information.

"Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain that build it; Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain."

Faith.—Says the apostle, "So then faith cometh, by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Faith is based on the Word of God. That is not faith which is based on opinion, or error, or the belief of the church, or the comments of the "fathers." Belief in all those various things does not connect a man with God vitally. Faith is such confidence in God's Word that it establishes a living relationship between the soul and God. It is not only believing that God is, but that "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." This establishes personal relationship; for men do not diligently seek God in companies unless they do it as individuals. Faith is individual confidence that God will do just what He says; that His Word will perform all that it commands or implies. It receives that Word as a living thing, in which dwells Christ, the wisdom of God and the power of God; and the power of God in that living Word creates, recreates, molds, changes, transforms, and fashions men after the Divine Image.

Waning Faith.—But this faith, the very faith which Jesus had, is waning among the professed followers of Christ. Too often the shepherds of the flock, instead of preaching the Word as the living Gospel of Jesus Christ, sit in judgment upon it, criticize its manner, its style, its teaching, repudiate its miracles, and condemn its science of salvation. Professing to believe in Jesus Christ, they proceed to undermine the very foundation on which Christ builded. The story of creation is a myth. The world is of evolution, not of creation. By parity of reasoning, man is of evolution not of creation. And, reasoning a step further, "the new man" is a product of evolution, instead of regeneration, re-creation, by the mighty power of the Word of God received by faith. Surely such men should not look for Bible conversions. They can not expect them. Yet if evolution be true, the Word of God is of none effect, and all the great reformations of God were deceptions.

Needed Faith.—God's Word is still effectual. Infinite power is still within it. Faith may still unlock its dynamic resources. The old patriarchs did not believe in vain. The prophets of God spoke not lying visions or false messages. The mission of Jesus Christ, founded in the Word of God, is not a myth. The apostles were not deceived. God's reformations in various ages were not lies. This faith is needed to-day. Noah had, so far as we know, no written word, but he believed and preached God's message, and by it "condemned the world," and through it God saved him and his house. Elijah could believe God, tho he thought he stood alone. The Word sustained him, and translated him. Nehemiah and Ezra preached the Word, and tho from temporary pulpits of wood, it was mighty in God in restoring Jerusalem and the temple, and in effecting a transformation among the people. They might have reasoned, The great mountain of difficulties in our path will sometime wear away, and then we will build. But God's message was the message of now, and receiving that message, bearing that message, living in that message, working out that message, the great mountain before the servant of God became a plain. The reformation wrought through John the Baptist, through Jesus and His apostles, was based on the Scriptures as the Word of God. There was no questioning or grumbling. Has God said it?—That is sufficient. Martin Luther and his coworkers, John Wesley and his associates, preached God's Word. God wrought through them all, and souls were regenerated and saved. O, for more of the faith of Jesus and His reformers to-day!

The Panacea for the Pulpit.—The Independent, in speaking of a recent sermon by Dr. Storrs, well remarks:—

"Of course the pulpit will lose its strength if it has not truth to tell, no matter how much faith it may put in the untruths which it preaches. It is the one who has truth to tell that will have the power of true teaching. The man who contradicts the growing knowledge of his generation will lag superfluous behind; and that is right. The people may be more intelligent than the pulpit; and when the pulpit tries to bear back the advance of new truth, it becomes something else than the power of God."

Some of the above we have italicized. But the new truth is not to be found by the preacher in the growing knowledge of the world, but in the ever unfolding Word of God. God has truth in that Word for this time, this generation. Christ is coming. The warning message must be given. It can not be kept back by any power. The strength of the pulpit is in bearing God's present message.

A "Christian Flag."—A field of white, a blue square in the upper inside-corner, on which is a red cross, is what many are now urging for adoption as the "Christian flag." It has been well remarked that a flag is an emblem of force; and if recognized by a government, as it is hoped this will be, it will become emphatically so. God commands His watchman, "Lift up a standard for the people." But the standard is God's, for the prophet declares: "He shall set up an ensign for the nations" and the Lord says, "I will . . . set up My standard to the people." "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against Him." And so the banner, the standard, the flag, the ensign, that the Lord's people have is spiritual, given by Him; is: "Thou hast given a banner unto them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." But "His banner" is "love" and the Christian will only commit pagan folly to endeavor even to crystallize into any sort of an image his conception of God's truth and love.

If the Christian be not a missionary he is nothing for Christ. He has one object in gathering out a people. Here it is: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [purchased] people that ye should show forth the praises [virtues, excellencies] of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Are you showing forth in your life Christ's praises, excellencies, virtues? It is your mission to do this, and if you are doing it, you are a Christian missionary. Do you recognize the mission? Are you fulfilling it? If not, why?—

God's Love Is Infinite.—It reaches to the very depth of human wo and misery and sin. Even Satan would find pardon at God's hand did Satan desire the purity and love and unity of God. He can not be pardoned because he does not wish that which the pardon implies,—unselfish purity and absolute submission to God; and he has so set himself against God that he can never desire it. This is man's danger—in himself, not God; in sin, not mercy. The time to accept His mercy is just now.

Faith

Faith.—Says the apostle, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Faith is based on the Word of God. That is not faith which is based on opinion, or error, or the belief of the church, or the councils of the "fathers." Belief in all these various things does not connect a man with God vitally. Faith is such confidence in God's Word that it establishes a living relationship between the soul and God. It is not only believing that God is, but that "He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." This establishes personal relationship; for men do not diligently seek God in companies unless they do it as individuals. Faith is individual confidence that God will do just what He says; that His Word will perform all that it commands or implies. It receives that Word as a living thing, in which dwells Christ, the wisdom of God and the power of God; and the power of God in that living Word creates, recreates, molds, changes, transforms, and fashions men after the Divine Image.

Waning Faith.—But this faith, the very faith which Jesus had, is waning among the professed followers of Christ. Too often the shepherds of the flock, instead of preaching the Word as the living Gospel of Jesus Christ, sit in judgment upon it, criticize its manner, its style, its teaching, repudiate its miracles, and condemn its science of salvation. Professing to believe in Jesus Christ, they proceed to undermine the very foundation on which Christ builded. The story of creation is a myth. The world is of evolution, not of creation. By parity of reasoning, man is of evolution not of creation. And, reasoning a step further, "the new man" is a product of evolution, instead of regeneration, re-creation, by the mighty power of the Word of God received by faith. Surely such men should not look for Bible conversions. They can not expect them. Yet if evolution be true, the Word of God is of none effect, and all the great reformations of God were deceptions.

Needed Faith.—God's Word is still effectual. Infinite power is still within it. Faith may still unlock its dynamic resources. The old patriarchs did not believe in vain. The prophets of God spoke not lying visions or false messages. The mission of Jesus Christ, founded in the Word of God, is not a myth. The apostles were not deceived. God's reformations in various ages were not lies. This faith is needed to-day. Noah had, so far as we know, no written word, but he believed and preached God's message, and by it "condemned the world," and through it God saved him and his house. Elijah could believe God, tho he thought he stood alone.

The Word sustained him, and translated him. Nehemiah and Ezra preached the Word, and tho from temporary pulpits of wood, it was mighty in God in restoring Jerusalem and the temple, and in effecting a transformation among the people. They might have reasoned, The great mountain of difficulties in our path will sometime wear away, and then we will build. But God's message was the message of now, and receiving that message, bearing that message, living in that message, working out that message, the great mountain before the servant of God became a plain. The reformation wrought through John the Baptizer, through Jesus and His apostles, was based on the Scriptures as the Word of God. There was no questioning or grumbling. Has God said it?—That is sufficient. Martin Luther and his coworkers, John Wesley and his associates, preached God's Word. God wrought through them all, and souls were regenerated and saved. O, for more of the faith of Jesus and His reformers to-day!

Building in Vain Without the Lord

"Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain that build it; Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain."

God's Love Is Infinite.

It reaches to the very depth of human wo and misery and sin. Even Satan would find pardon at God's hand did Satan desire the purity and love and unity of God. He can not be pardoned because he does not wish that which the pardon implies,—unselfish purity and absolute submission to God; and he has so set himself against God that he can never desire it. This is man's danger—in himself, not God; in sin, not mercy. The time to accept His mercy is just now.

The Christian Missionary

If the Christian be not a missionary he is nothing for Christ. He has one object in gathering out a people. Here it is: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar [purchased] people: that ye should show forth the praises [virtues, excellencies] of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Are you showing forth in your life Christ's praises, excellencies, virtues? It is your mission to do this; and if you are doing it, you are a Christian missionary. Do you recognize the mission? Are you fulfilling it? If not, why?

A Christian Flag

A “Christian Flag.”—A field of white, a blue square in the upper inside corner, on which is a red cross, is what many are now urging for adoption as the “Christian flag.” It has been well remarked that a flag is an emblem of force; and if recognized by a government, as it is hoped this will be, it will become emphatically so. God commands His watchman, “Lift up a standard for the people.” But the standard is God’s, for the prophet declares: “He shall set up an ensign for the nations;” and the Lord says, “I will . . . set up My standard to the people.” “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against Him.” And so the banner, the standard, the flag, the ensign, that the Lord’s people have is spiritual, given by Him; for “Thou hast given a banner unto them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” But “His banner” is “love;” and the Christian will only commit pagan folly to endeavor even to crystallize into any sort of an image his conception of God’s truth and love.

The Panacea for the Pulpit.

By Editor

The Independent, in speaking of a recent sermon by Dr. Storrs, well remarks:—

"There is only one true panacea for any or all the ills and wrongs and ignorances of men, and that is instruction, the earnest teaching of men who can teach. It is a slow process but the only vital one. What is put deep in the soul develops the character; laws and prisons will not do it. . . . Of course the pulpit will lose its strength if it has not truth to tell, no matter how much faith it may put in the untruths which it preaches. It is the one who has truth to tell that will have the power of true teaching. The man who contradicts the growing knowledge of his generation will lag superfluous behind; and that is right. The people may be more intelligent than the pulpit; and when the pulpit tries to beat back the advance of new truth, it becomes something else than the power of God."